Releasing mechanism for automatic vending machines



March 24, 1931. .c, H sE 1,798,085

RELEASING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINES Filed June 24. 1929 75/6. i awsen Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENr OFFICE; Y

HANS CHRISTIAN HANSEN, F FREDERIKSBERG, DENMARK, ASSIGNOR 'TO SOREN WIS'IOFT &; CO.S FABRIKKER, AKTS., 0F COPENHAGEN, DENMARK I BELEASING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINES Application filed June 24, 1929, Serial No. 373,365, and in Denmark July 19, 1928.

The invention relates to a releasing mechanism for an automatic vending machine, which can distinguish between coins with flange and coins without flange and is of the 5 type, which with this object in view has a pair of spring-actuated feelers, formed as double-armed levers, with beaks turned towards each other, between which the coins inserted into the machine fall.

The releasing mechanism is essentially characterized by the said two feelers being suspended on stationary pins, and below, but a little to one side of the gap between the two opposite feeler beaks a stop member being provided, against which a coin inserted into the machine will strike, and which has the effect that the coin if it has no flange, rolls so that it falls down to the one side of a partition whereupon it is in a suitable manner conducted out of the machine, whereas if the coin has a flange it rolls and moves in such a manner, guided both by the feelers seizing within the flange and by the said stop member, that this eflects an opening of the feelers, and then falls down along the other side of the said partition, so as to release in the usual manner the locking mechanism of the opening member of the machine.

In the drawing Fig. 1 shows the part of the releasing mechanism in question, which is necessary for understanding the invention, and

Fig. 2 the same, seen from the left side in Fig. 1. 1 is the usual, slanting coin chute along which a coin inserted into the respectivemachine rolls down to and into a vertical downwards coin passage 2, which is situated between two stationary plates 3, and which at 49 the sides (on the right and on the left in Fig. 1) are limited in a suitable manner. In

the constructional form shown the coin passage 2 is limited on the right side (Fig. 1) by the inner edge 4 of a strip of plate 5 secured between the plates 3, which reaches a little beyondthe under edges of the plates 3. At its lower end the strip of plate 5 has the shape of an angle in such a manner that it forms an arm 6, which passes in under a part of the lower openingof the coin passage 2. To the arm 6 there is pivotally suspended a small pawl 7, having the cross-section of an inverted U, so that this pawl may easily be turned up from its normal position shown in the drawing, which the pawl will again assume by gravity, when it no more isunder an action turning it in the said direction.

The under edges of the pawl have on the greater part of their length, reckoning from the free end of the pawl, flat surfaces 8, which extend slantingly upwards in direction to this end.

.9 are the two feelers formed as double armed levers. Each feeler is pivotal on a v stationary pin 10 and underthe effect of a coiled spring 11. The two pins 10 are situated a little sideways, each opposite oneo'f the plates 3. The lower parts of the feelers are bent in a direction towards one another, while the feelers are thus convergent downwards towards each other, their said inwardly bent parts normally (under action of the springs 11 on the respective feelers) each abut against the lower outer side edge of the plate 3, and the beaks 12 of the feelers are then beneath the coin passage 2 at a short distance from same and are at a distance from each other which is practically equal to the thickness of a coin, forwhich t-he machine is intended, within its flange. The outer end of the pawl 7 is a little to oneside of the gap between the beaks 12 of the feelers, and it may be mentioned, that its uppervsurface has a slight incline towards the vertical middle plane common to the feelers.

13, F ig. 1, is a stationary partition arranged at a suitable place in the machine casing.

The mode of operationis thefollowing:

It shall be assumed that a coin for which the machine is intended, is inserted into the machine (a coin with flange). After having rolled down through the coin chute l, the coin falls down through the coin passage 2 with its flange first against the beaks 12 of the feelers. In consequence of its kinetic energy the coin will turn the feelers so much against the action of the spring 11, that the flange of the coin may pass between the beaks of the feelers, so that these will then grip the coin within its flange. The coin reaches almost simultaneously the pawl 7, whereby its downwards movement is stopped, but the coin-will now move to the left (Fig. 1) on the l-IANS CHRISTIAN- HANSEN.

pawl, guided by the beaks of the feelers grip- V i ping within the flange of the coin, until it is no more supported by. the pawl. i'At this moment the centre of the pawl (its centre of gravity) is obliquely below to theleft of the place where the beaks of the feelers grip the coin closely within its flange, and the consequence thereof is that the coin now suddently in consequence of the gravity moves downwards with the edges of its flange slidin-g along the said beaks and simultaneously therewith swings counterclockwise, during which swinging movement the coin by acting frombelow against the bevelled underedges 8 of thepawl 7 turns the pawl clockwise. V

The coin will then with a certain kinetic energy strike against the two beaks of the feelers at the moment its centre of gravity is vertically below the gap between the beaks of the feelers. By this action the feelers are turned so much that they will release the coin which will fall vertically downward, whereby it is made to fall to the right of the wall 13, whence it is in any suitable manner con ducted further 'to release the opening member of the machine. As soon as the coin has fallen, the pawl 7 will by its gravity swing back-into its normal position.

If instead of a coin with flange a coin without-flange is inserted into the machine,

such a coin willafter abutting against the pawl 7 roll to the left on the same without being acted upon by the beaks of the feelers 9. The coin will in thismanner roll off the pawl in the said direction and will fall down in such a manner that it passes to the left along the partition 13, to thence be conducted out ofthe machine.

Some details may be changed, without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

A releasing mechanism for vending machines for. distinguishing between flanged and fiangeless coins comprising a coin chute, a pair of feelers having beaks upon their lower ends and "directed toward each other 7 and having a gap therebetween, means for p ivotally supporting the feelers, a partition below the. beaks, a stop member mounted below the beaks and in ofi'set relation with respect to the gap between said beaks. said memp at fab 

